It's a game synonymous with the spirit of Anzac Day - a shared experience with the diggers who fought and died for Australia.
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But where did two-up come from? We take a look at the origins of the traditional gambling game played in NSW only on April 25.
History of the game
The exact origins of two-up are obscure, but it seems to have evolved from pitch and toss, a gambling game involving tossing a single coin into the air and wagering on the result.
Two-up was popular amongst poorer English and Irish citizens in the 18th century.
The predilection of the convicts for this game was noted as early as 1798 by New South Wales's first judge advocate, as well as the lack of skill involved and the large losses.
By the 1850s, the two-coin form was being played on the goldfields of the eastern colonies and it was spread across the country following subsequent goldrushes.
Two-up was played extensively by Australia's soldiers during World War I.
Gambling games, to which a blind eye was cast, became a regular part of Anzac Day celebrations for returned soldiers, although two-up was illegal at all other times.
As time passed, increasingly elaborate illegal "two-up schools" grew around Australia, to the consternation of authorities but with the backing of corrupt police.
The legendary Thommo's Two-up School, which operated at various locations in Surry Hills, Sydney from the early years of the 20th century until at least 1979, was one of Australia's first major illegal gambling operations.
The popularity of two-up declined after the 1950s as more sophisticated forms of gambling like baccarat gained popularity in illegal gaming houses and poker machines (slot machines) were legalised in clubs.
Legal two-up arrived with its introduction as a table game at the new casino in Hobart in 1973, but is now only offered in Perth's Burswood Entertainment Complex and Melbourne's Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex. Two-up has also been legalised on Anzac Day, when it is played in Returned Servicemen's League (RSL) clubs and hotels. Several tourist "two-up schools" in the Outback have also been legalised.
Under the NSW Gambling (Two-Up) Act 1998, playing two-up in NSW is not unlawful on Anzac Day.
How to play
A person is selected as the spinner (generally greeted to loud calls of "Come in spinner!" by the rest of the players). The spinner will be tossing the coins in the air using the kip until they win or lose.
The basic format of the game:
- Two heads means the spinner wins.
- Two tails means the spinner loses.
- Odds ("one them") means the spinner throws again.
The spinner is required to place a bet before their first throw that must be covered (equalled) by another player. If the spinner wins they keep the bet and cover, otherwise it goes to the player who covered the bet. The boxer takes a commission out of this bet.
The other members of the group place side bets (bets against each other) on whether the spinner will win or lose and the result of the next throw.
Information thanks to Wikipedia.
